Badge of Silver may not make Carter

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Badge of Silver was forced to scratch out of last year's Carter Handicap because of a problem with a front foot. He might be forced to miss this year's Carter because of a problem with a hind foot.

Trainer Bobby Frankel said Wednesday that Badge of Silver popped an abscess in a hind foot earlier this week, and may not be able to run in Saturday's Grade 1 Carter at Aqueduct. Last year, Badge of Silver suffered a keratoma in his right front foot that forced him to miss the Carter.

"It's not in a bad spot, but I'm not going to ship him unless he's 100 percent," Frankel said Wednesday afternoon.

Frankel said Badge of Silver "breezed beautifully" when he worked four furlongs in 46.40 seconds Monday at Churchill Downs. Frankel said Badge of Silver simply walked Tuesday and Wednesday, but that he wasn't concerned about that.

"He's dead fit," Frankel said. "I could probably walk him into the race."

Badge of Silver is coming off stakes victories in the Hal's Hope at Gulfstream and New Orleans Handicap at Fair Grounds. He would be cutting back to a one-turn mile in the Carter, but did finish a good second in last November's Grade 1 Cigar Mile.

Whether Badge of Silver runs in the Carter, Frankel will have at least one starter in the $350,000 race. Mass Media, who won last year's Sport Page Handicap over this track, was scheduled to arrive in New York for the race from Southern California on Thursday.

After leaving New York last fall, Mass Media shipped to Southern California, where he was unsuccessful in three graded stakes. In his last race, Mass Media finished sixth as the 9-10 favorite in the Grade 2 San Carlos Handicap at Santa Anita.

"He was sort of rushed the last time," Frankel said. "Also, I don't think he liked Santa Anita."

If he runs, Badge of Silver would be the 118-pound starting highweight under Jerry Bailey. If he doesn't, Forest Danger and Medallist will be the co-starting highweights at 117 pounds.

Badge of Silver was one of several Carter starters who first had to test negative for the infectious disease known as strangles before being allowed to ship to New York. Forest Danger and Medallist, who wintered in Florida, both tested negative for strangles and were expected to arrive in New York on Thursday. Forest Danger, trained by Todd Pletcher, is coming from Kentucky, while Medallist, is coming from Florida.

Because of the uncertainty of being allowed to ship to New York, trainer Ralph Ziadie opted to keep Silver Wagon out of the Carter. Ziadie said he would run Silver Wagon in next week's Commonwealth at Keeneland,with an eye on the May 30 Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont.

Zito: Bellamy Road needs Wood test

Bellamy Road is another who passed his strangles test and was expected to arrive in New York Thursday night to run in Saturday's Grade 1 $750,000 Wood Memorial. Bellamy Road could go off the favorite in the Wood, which figures to draw a field of seven.

Bellamy Road went 2 for 3 in trainer Michael Dickinson's care last year, including a victory in the Cradle Stakes. He was transferred to Nick Zito at the beginning of the year, and won a second-level allowance race by 15 3/4 lengths on March 12.

"I thought he'd run extremely well, but I didn't realize he could run like that," Zito said. "He's got a lot of talent. I hope he gets it done in the Wood."

Zito said he chose the Wood over the Illinois Derby because he believes the Wood would be a tougher race, and Bellamy Road needs a test. Javier Castellano will ride Bellamy Road in the Wood.

Worried about possible ramifications from the strangles cases that existed in south Florida, Zito shipped Bellamy Road out of south Florida to Churchill Downs on March 26. On Sunday, Bellamy Road worked five furlongs in 59.80 seconds at Churchill.

Among Bellamy Road's challengers in the Wood are the top four finishers in the Gotham - Survivalist, Galloping Grocer, Naughty New Yorker, and Pavo - as well as Going Wild and Scrappy T.

Diamond Wildcat to miss Bay Shore

There are likely to be only four challengers to Lost in the Fog in the $150,000 Bay Shore Stakes, and stakes winner Diamond Wildcat will not be among them.

Trainer Ben Perkins Jr. said Diamond Wildcat would miss the Bay Shore after developing a mild case of colic.

Lost in the Fog, who arrived from northern California on Tuesday, figures to rule a heavy favorite in the seven-furlong Bay Shore. Lost in the Fog is undefeated in four starts and is coming off a 4 3/4-length victory in the Grade 2 Swale Stakes on March 5. His connections had indicated he would be nominated to the Triple Crown series after the Swale, but ultimately did not pay the $6,000 late nomination fee and will concentrate on one-turn races for the time being.

Others pointing to the Bay Shore are Benjamin Baby, Big Top Cat, Lieutenant Danz, and White Socks. The last three are eligible for entry-level allowance conditions.